The Sixth Commandment.
Which is the Sixth Commandment?
_Thou shalt not commit adultery._
What does this mean?
_We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life
in word and deed, and each love and honor his spouse._
1. _We should lead a chaste and decent life,_ that is the demand of our
God and heavenly Father according to the Sixth Commandment. Our hearts
must be chaste to make our lives chaste and decent. Our _hearts_ should
be _chaste,_ that is, free from evil lusts, free from unclean and lewd
thoughts and desires. When our hearts are chaste and pure, our lives
will be decent and modest and clean. The chastity of our hearts will
show itself in all the acts of our life. _"Keep thyself pure,"_ says the
Word of God. 1 Tim. 5,22. Keep your heart pure and chaste.
2. _We should lead a chaste and decent life in word._ We should refrain
from _all filthy words_ that prove our heart to be unclean, from all
words, songs, jests, etc., of which we would be ashamed before God, or
before parents if they would hear them. We should shun all those jests
and verses which boy whispers to boy, or girl to girl, lest decent
persons might overhear them. Only such words as are good and clean
should pass our lips. Never use a word that you would be ashamed of in
the presence of your parents and teachers! Always remember that God is
with you, that He will hear every word you utter in secret. _"Let no
corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is
good."_ Eph. 4,29.
3. _We should lead a chaste and decent life in deed._ We should shun all
acts which are mostly done in secret, all deeds which we would be
ashamed of in the presence of God, our parents, or other decent people.
We should walk honestly as in the day. Rom. 13,13. We should keep all
members of our body clean and pure. _Our body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost._ 1 Cor. 6,19. How could a child of God use a member of his body
for filthy purposes and so defile God's temple, make it impure! We
should be modest and decent in our behavior, manners, dress, etc.
4. _What must we do to lead such a chaste and decent life?_ Our hearts,
by nature, are unclean and unchaste full of evil desires. We cannot
hinder evil lusts from springing up in our hearts at times. But with the
help of God we must try, and try earnestly, _to quench them, to put them
down,_ lest they gain a place in our hearts. We can do this only _by
means of God's Word and prayer._ Think of God's holy commandment, of the
will of our heavenly Father according to which we should be pure in
heart. God says: _"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see
God."_ Matt. 5,8. Remember that God knows the secret thoughts of your
heart, and you will say with Joseph: _"How, then, can I do this great
wickedness and, sin against God?"_ Gen. 39,9. The fear and love of God
will put down all evil lusts and lewd thoughts. And whenever filthy
desires arise and tempt you, pray to God for His help, pray earnestly
and fervently: _"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right
spirit within me."_ Ps. 51,10.
5. In order to lead a chaste and decent life, _we should, as far as
possible, shun all temptations and all places and occasions where such
temptations will come upon us._ The world is an unclean place, full of
evil lusts. Temptations meet us everywhere. Therefore we must always
watch over ourselves. _"Flee youthful lusts,"_ 2 Tim 2,22, as Joseph
fled when Potiphar's wife tempted him. We should not go to places where
such temptations may be met; we should shun bad company, impure books or
pictures, theaters, etc. where indecent talk or pictures may excite evil
lusts in us.
6. _When we are alone and idle,_ the devil often comes to tempt us with
impure thoughts and desires In order to lead a chaste and decent life,
we should avoid idleness and work diligently and faithfully. Find
something useful to do in work or innocent play, and Satan will find
less time to tempt you with lustful thoughts. But above all, pray to
your heavenly Father that He would guard you in all temptations, that
you may overcome and obtain the victory.
7. We should fear and love God _that each may love and honor his spouse.
Spouse_ is man or wife, persons who live in holy matrimony, as your
parents do. _Matrimony_ is instituted by God, and it is His will that
husband and wife should love and honor each other, that they should
faithfully live together till death parts them. If one is unfaithful to
the other, or leaves the other, he or she commits _adultery._